Havoc is one half of the musical force that rap fans have to come to know and love as Mobb Deep. For the past 14-years, Havoc (along with partner Prodigy) have become one of Hip-Hopâ€™s most influential entities and has released a string of indelible LPâ€™s including acclaimed classics like The Infamous, Hell On Earth and Amerikaz Nightmare. To date, Mobb Deep has sold over 4 millions records.

While Havocâ€™s partner Prodigy has already leaped into the solo-realm, Havoc has previously not done so due to a hectic recording schedule with Mobb Deep where he has produced some of the most essential Hip-Hop tracks of the last decade (â€œShook Ones Pt.2,â€ â€œDrop A Gem On Em,â€ â€œQuiet Storm,â€ and â€œThe Learningâ€ among just a handful of classics) and due to the fact that he is one of Hip-Hopâ€™s most sought after producers (as he has previously worked with a whoâ€™s who list of artists including: Nas, Capone & Noreaga, Foxy Brown, 50 Cent, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, Lloyd Banks, The Game, Jadakiss, Lil Kim, Method Man, Notorious B.I.G., etc) as Havoc reaffirms â€œI was always ready (to drop a solo-album), but the reason why it took me so long is because the timing wasnâ€™t right. I was always working on Mobb Deep material and working with other artists and I used allot of the material I was going to use for a solo-LP for Mobb Deep records.â€ However, that all changes with the release of Havocâ€™s debut, The Kush, (the prequel to his official solo-LP) on 9-18-07.

Havocâ€™s debut has been buzzed about for quite some time and is eagerly anticipated by the groupâ€™s fan base and fans of the duoâ€™s hardcore brand of NY hip-hop. Over the years, Havocâ€™s eerily chilling production has influenced countless producers, set the bar for NYC producers and become the identity for the â€œQueensbridge sound.â€ That trend continues with The Kush, as the LP is entirely self-produced by Havoc and as he laments heâ€™s keeping it grimy â€œbasically, The Kush is dark and gutter, I really wanted to go that direction.â€

Forsaking littering The Kush with numerous guest-appearances, Havoc choose to keep things entirely in-house and make it an all-family endeavor by design states Havoc â€œBesides Prodigy, I did not want a bunch of big stars on it, as it would have taken away from the real objective of the LP, which is grimy and down to earth.â€

After working with virtually every big name artist in the Urban genre and creating some of the most timeless music Hip-Hop fans have had the pleasure to lay ears upon, Havoc did not need to step out of his zone to stay motivated for The Kush, as he states â€œthe thing that keeps me motivated is just my love of music, I just love to create. The Kush represents me as an individual and my growth as a producer and lyricist.â€

The Kush; another Queensbridge classic!

Tracklisting and credits for Havocâ€™s The Kush:

1.) NY For Life (produced by Havoc) 2.) Iâ€™m The Boss (produced by Havoc) 3.) By My Side f/40 Glocc (produced by Havoc) 4.) One Less Nigga (produced by Havoc) 5.) Ride Out f/Nyce (produced by Havoc) 6.) Balling Out f/Un Pachino (produced by Havoc) 7.) Whatâ€™s Poppin Tonite (produced by Havoc) 8.) Class By Myself f/Nitti (produced by Havoc) 9.) Set Me Free f/Prodigy & Nyce (produced by Havoc) 10.) Be There (produced by Havoc) 11.) Hit Me Up f/Un Pacihno (produced by Havoc) 12.) Get Off My Dick (produced by Havoc)

Author: James McQuiston

Ph.D. in Political Science, Kent State University.I have been the editor at NeuFutur / neufutur.com since I was 15. Looking for new staff members all the time; email me if you are interested. Thanks! View all posts by James McQuiston